Gordon City Council Minutes June 12, 2014

Notice of the meeting was given to advance by publication in the Sheridan County Journal Star, the designated method for giving notice as shown by the affidavit of publication on file in the City Clerk’s office. Agendas of the meeting were simultaneously given to the Mayor and all members of the Council. All proceedings hereafter shown were taken while the convened meeting was open to the attendance of the public.

A meeting of the City Council of the City of Gordon was called to order at 6:00 p.m., June 12, 2014, in the Council Chambers of the City Auditorium. The Mayor noted the location of the Open Meetings Laws poster in the back of the room.

Present: Morgan, Russell, Grant, Bounous, and Evans.

Absent: No One.

Motion by Bounous, seconded by Grant to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Ayes: Russell, Grant, Bounous, Evans, and Morgan.

Motion by Bounous, seconded by Evans to approve the May 2014 Treasurer’s Report. Ayes: Grant, Bounous, Evans, Morgan, and Russell.

Mr. Butch Stanko was unable to attend the council meeting to discuss items F and G on the agenda. Concerning item F, City of Gordon overhead, City Manager Fred Hlava stated for the record that the property tax request for the 2014-2015 budget year was only $43,452 more than in 1990-1991, twenty-four years ago. With the loss of State Aid and inflation increases in operational costs annually, he felt that city officials and employees have done, and continue to do, an exemplary job in minimizing costs within their control, and continue to provide a quality service to the Gordon community.

Mr. Jim Lambley was present to represent Mr. Stanko concerning item G, the purchase of the Ideal Market building. City Manager Fred Hlava reviewed with Mr. Lambley that the Gordon Economic Development Corporation owns the Ideal Market building, and that their mission was to promote retention of existing businesses as well as to encourage new business and industry in Gordon. Mr. Hlava stated that anyone who is interested in buying this property needs to submit a business plan for this location to Valerie Mann, President of the Economic Development Corporation. All plans will be given consideration, and the final decision to sell the building will be made by the Economic Development Corporation.

Motion by Morgan, seconded by Grant to approve the Gordon Volunteer Rescue Squad application made by Taylor Allison, and to thank her for her volunteer service. Ayes: Evans, Morgan, Russell, Grant, and Bounous.

City Manager Fred Hlava updated council on the Safe Routes Nebraska project. The City of Gordon was not awarded the grant, but city officials will continue to monitor this program and if the opportunity arises, will apply again in the future. Grants were awarded to South Sioux City, Weeping Water, and Wahoo.

The City of Gordon Community Clean Up program was a huge success this year. City Manager Fred Hlava told council that he felt one of the biggest reasons for the success was the extension of the program into two weeks, which allowed for people to have two weekends to accomplish their clean up projects. Fred Hlava also felt that adding a second Community Clean Up in the fall would continue the community’s efforts toward cleaning up properties. Motion by Morgan, seconded by Evans to have a Community Clean Up program in the spring, and a second Community Clean Up program in the fall. Ayes: Morgan, Russell, Grant, Bounous, and Evans.

Lifeshield Alliance has taken the place of the Omni Advantage flight for life membership/insurance program. The new program has been restructured to have different levels of coverage based on the membership fee that you pay. City Manager Fred Hlava will be contacting Lifeshield Alliance and requesting that they work with a local insurance office in an effort to make it more readily available to the citizens of Gordon.

City Manager Fred Hlava will be attending the Region 23 Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan planning team meeting on July 8. This is the next step in completing the Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Council was given two FYI items – the April/May police statistics and information on a surge protector recall.

Council reconvened in regular session at 7:25 pm. With no further business, motion by Bounous, seconded by Grant to adjourn. Ayes: Grant, Bounous, Evans, Morgan, and Russell.

/s/Kim Buchan

City Clerk

/s/ Nancy I Russell

Mayor

I, the undersigned, City Clerk for the City of Gordon, Nebraska hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the proceedings had and c\done by the Mayor and Council on June 12, 2014; that all of the subjects included in the foregoing proceedings were contained in the agenda for the meeting, kept continuously current and available for inspection at the office of the City Clerk; that such subjects were contained in said minutes of the Mayor and Council of the City of Gordon from which the foregoing proceedings have been extracted were in written form and available for public inspection within ten working days and prior to the next convened meeting of said body; that all news media requesting notification of the time and place of said meeting and the subjects to be discussed at said meeting.